The provision of healthcare services in Australia is both an Australian Government and State Government responsibility through the Medicare system and managing the public hospital system, yet Local Governments have been forced to step in and fund primary healthcare services.
Last week the announcement of the WA Liberals election funding commitment of $75 million to address the general practitioner (GP) and pediatrician shortages across the state was greatly welcomed - read the full media statement here.
With one of WALGA’s 2025 Federal Election Priorities asking for the systemic failures in regional primary healthcare provision to be addressed, this was a great boost but advocacy efforts continue at a State and Federal level.
On Saturday, 15 February, WALGA President Karen Chappel AM JP published an Op-Ed in the West Australian newspaper to futher advocate and drive this healthcare agenda on behalf of Local Goverment's.
President Chappel commented that "The need for Local Governments to fund this vital service for their communities is placing significant pressure on Local Governments’ already stretched budgets, diverting funds away from the provision of other essential community services and infrastructure.
“Local Governments should not, and cannot, continue to bear this cost.”
Read the Media Statement for the WA Liberals $75m funding promise.
